Micro-computer based communication system

The CNEA 20UD tandem accelerator manufactured by National Electrostatics Corp. is predominately controlled through a hard wired console. In the past, accelerators have used mechanical control rods to control parameters inside the high voltage terminals and dead sections. The 20UD column, has relatively complex equipment within the terminal and dead sections. Because of its complexity and the length of the column (approximately 48 ft. from ground to terminal) it was concluded that a digital communication link would be required to provide the smooth, high resolution control needed for the ion-optic components and to provide a reliable system to monitor the large number of parameters. To further ensure reliability, some basic components such as foil strippers and the terminal matching quadrupole have back-up control via control rods to allow limited operation in the event of a failure of the digital system